Chapter 102 - A disease ended in a poem

Early in the morning, Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi wake up. As usual, Zhang Yi kisses him on his cheek, smiling:

-Good morning, highness... 

-You make it better.

Yu Lexuan smiles, kissing Zhang Yi back. Zhang Yi responds by hugging him. Yu Lexuan caresses him face gently:

-Zhang Yi... You kept me warm and happy this night... I must pay that in some way. - Yu Lexuan smirks.

-Your highness has already paid it by letting me sleep with you. - Zhang Yi blushes.

-You deserve a bonus... Maybe later?

-Whenever your highness wants, I'll be ready.

 Yu Lexuan smiles. They dress and walk down to the breakfast room, have a quick meal, and then check out. Their walk to their cart, and Yu Lexuan drives it:

-Zhang Yi, how long until we get to this new city? Is it too far away?

-About 60 li. We should reach the city of Zhengqiao, but there is a mountain range in the middle, as you can probably see now. 

-Ah, yes, I'm seeing it.

-There is a gap in the mountains, we will be able to cross it easily.

The road becomes steeper, and the horses are having difficulties pulling the carriage uphill. Zhang Yi knew that at that place there was a stud farm where they could change horses:

-Yu Lexuan, watch out for a stud farm neaby. Our horses are already feeling tired, I think one night was not enough for them. 

-Yes, I noticed that.

Yu Lexuan pushes the horses to go as far as he feels sensible, but getting almost at the top of the mountain, he sees nothing. Zhong Kunyi, however, sees only remnants of the old stud farm:

-It is closed! 

-What should we do? I think our horses may not withstand!

Zhang Yi thinks for a moment:

-Well, let them have some time to recover. Maybe half an hour or something. There is a stream not far away from us. 

-Good, I think we can do that.

-After we cross this mountain, we will go downhill on a gentle slope, this is going to be less taxing for the horses. On the other side, there is another stud farm from which we can get new horses.

Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi move out from the carriage, sitting side by side in the grass, beneath a tree. They can enjoy a nice view from that point:

-This was an unplanned accident, your highness, please forgive me.

-No problem, sometimes we can't predict everything.

Yu Lexuan smiles, and takes one of Zhang Yi's hands, caressing it:

-Zhang Yi... Even though these journeys we do may offer some risks to me and let Feng Long concerned... I really enjoy it when we go out there together...

-I can only thank your highness for keeping me motivated.

-Do not mention it, I really enjoy being at your side... And being kept warm by you is also so good.

-Your highness is so sweet and loving... I feel in an elevated state of energy when I hug and kiss you... sometimes I also play with your hair... This is so nice...

Yu Lexuan blushes, then pass his hand behind Zhang Yi, bringing him closer:

-Ah Zhang Yi... How can't I fall in love with you each time?

While Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan "bill and coo", Feng Long feels bad on his bed. Zhong Kunyi woke up early and avoided waking him up as well. He notices his breath is heavy and difficult:

-What is happening... Why I'm feeling so bad today?

Feng Long tries to get up, which he does but needs to support himself in the furniture:

-I never felt that bad before... I must reach the hospital...

Feng Long manages to get out of his bedroom, but after trying to move across the hallway, he falls to the floor. There are no other places where he can hold, the only thing he can do is crawl on the floor:

-This is... This is the end for me... Yu Lexuan... YU LEXUAN... NOO!!!

Feng Long cries and screams. Zhong Kunyi heard his scream from afar:

-What is going on? Why is Feng Long screaming? I must go there now!

Zhong Kunyi arrives quickly. When he sees Feng Long on the floor, he runs to him:

-Feng Long, Feng Long!!! What is happening???

-Zhong Kunyi, please... We must get to the hospital, argh! It hurts!

-In no time!!!

Zhong Kunyi takes Feng Long in his arms and tries to walk fast. Reaching the open square in front of the temple, his arms are in pain as Zhong Kunyi rarely carries heavy loads on his own. The pain gets too great and he ends up stumbling in a small rock, falling with Feng Long. He cries:

-Feng Long... Feng Long... SOMEONE, PLEASE, HELP US!!!

Passing citizens notice he was having problems, and promptly arrive, offering help. Feng Long feels a strong pain and cries.

At least three citizens help Zhong Kunyi carry Feng Long. He is visibly devastated:

-I let Feng long fall down in the ground... I may have hurt him...

They arrive at the hospital shortly. The staff notices Feng Long and quickly provides a stretcher to carry Feng Long:

-He is feeling strong pain, please, help Feng Long... Help him!!! - Zhong Kunyi screams, crying.

-Please, we will diagnose him shortly... 

The staff carries Feng Long to a separate room. Zhong kunyi stays with him at all times, holding his hand. Feng Long passed out, and Zhong Kunyi got even more desperate. 

Two doctors arrive, and take some measurements. They also test Feng Long for the new pathogen and pour a liquid on his mouth:

-Please, your excellency... Despite the pain, Feng Long is probably going to be fine in a couple of minutes... Looks like he had eaten something rotten or improperly cooked.

Zhong Kunyi feels a bit better, and moves closer, taking one of  Feng Long's hands. He feels that his heart is still pulsing, although at a slower pace:

-Feng Long... I let you fall from my arms, I was not strong enough...

Next, the doctors analyze the test for the pathogen, and it comes out unchanged. Everyone in the room feels alleviated:

-His excellency, no need to worry too much, the test didn't change. Feng Long will recover shortly, please wait.

-I'm still worried... Please, let us alone for now... 

-As you wish, sorry for any inconvenience.

The staff moves out of the room. Zhong Kunyi lies his wet face sideways over Feng Long's pec, hearing his heartbeat:

-Feng Long, please... Do not let us... Do not let me... We need your love...

 

Zhong Kunyi cries quietly, further making Feng Long's attire wet where he rests his head. Feng Long slowly recovers, but his mind is a mess. The pain was also slowly decreasing, and his breath was also recovering slowly. 

Zhong Kunyi keeps crying, remembering the good times he had with Feng Long:

-I was too immature... I knew everything about numbers and trade-offs, but only you taught me what love means... Only you have shown me the inestimable value of friendship... I do not want to lose you, Feng Long...

About half an hour later, Feng Long seems to recover completely. Seeing Zhong Kunyi resting his head on his pec, and crying, he quietly calls for him:

-Zhong Kunyi... I'll be there forever...

-Feng Long... FENG LONG!!!

Zhong Kunyi turns around, and cries, kissing him:

-I thought I'd lost you, Feng Long... I let you fall to the floor... I was not strong enough...

Feng Long then gets up but remains sitting on the stretcher. His eyes water, he smiles and gently hugs Zhong Kunyi, caressing him:

-Zhong Kunyi, do not blame yourself... You helped me so much today... You have shown how much you love me... How could I ever regret having you so close to me... You are so lovely and attentive...

 -I may have hurt your majesty...

Zhong Kunyi cries more, and tightens the hug:

-No, you haven't... Even so, it does mean nothing compared to your love... No physical aggression is as painful as losing your trust... And I still trusting, and loving, you...

Feng long gives several minutes for Zhong Kunyi to recover emotionally. He gently caresses him and plays with his hair. Next, the doctors arrive again:

-Your majesty recovered very fast! We tested you and found nothing really serious, do you remember eating something different?

-Well, first, I'm grateful for the swift response... No, I haven't eaten anything different... I don't know exactly what happened, I just felt my breath becoming heavy, and also my lungs hurting, then I passed out...

-This is strange... Well, you can, in principle, come back home if you want, but you should avoid any kind of intense exercise in the next two days.

-Ok, I'll follow the recommendation.

Feng Long gets up. Zhong Kunyi helps him to walk with less effort, managing to reach the palace in a few minutes. They move to the kitchen, and Zhong Kunyi prepares a vitamin:

-Please, Feng long, drink it... You must be feeling terrible...

-I'm feeling better with you, please, let's share it...You have cried so much... - Feng Long smiles.

Zhong Kunyi smiles, and they drink the vitamin together. after that, he helps Feng Long get to his bedroom:

-Your majesty should rest for a while...

-You can resume your activities, Zhong Kunyi...

Zhong Kunyi takes a book from the shelf, and sits beside Feng Long, holding it open with one hand, while caressing him with the other:

-The beauty of governance starts in our hearts... Only those who are blessed with a pure spirit and a clean mind can follow suit... There are a thousand rivers to cross, a thousand flowers to smell, and a thousand problems to solve... in the junction of vertical and horizontal, we happily build our dreams and plans... in the junction of vertical and horizontal, we oversee the bright future of our lives, inspired by beauty and peace... In the junction of vertical and horizontal, I see his majesty, graciously writing his poems in a state of absolute happiness...In the junction of horizontal and vertical, I see your majesty playing his heavenly tunes, awakening the gods and keeping the whole world happy and enchanted...

Feng Long smiles:

-This poem is so beautiful, Zhong Kunyi... I mean, your part... I have never finished it...

-Your majesty inspired me to do so... I'm feeling so happy... - Zhong Kunyi smiles broadly. 

-Zong Kunyi...

Feng Long gets up and touches his nose on Zhong Kunyi's, slowly closing his eyes and starting a deep kiss.

Meanwhile, Yu Lexuan and Zhang Yi manage to get to the top of the mountain range. The horses were given almost an hour to recover and managed to complete the last two li of climbing. The terrain now is much easier for them as the carriage has a brake, so they won't have to keep it from running away down the valley.  

...

◄Previous chapter                  Next Chapter►